Have you ever watched on of net waplog those BDSM porn scenes where someone has a cattle prod or an electrified pinwheel? No? Well, you haven’t heard of e-stim toys yet. Are you reading this and thinking, ‘You cannot be serious that people do this in real life‘? Well, they do, and you can, too!

Electrified sex toys. Yes, this is just what it sounds like: Sex toys that shock the skin and genitals on actual people’s actual bodies. Electrostimulation (or e-stim) sex toys are having somewhat of a moment, and if you’re interested, you should hop on this electric-powered train stat.

Are you curious about how you can get electricity involved in your sex life? Are you totally freaked out, but still kind of interested in learning more? Here’s everything you need to know about using e-stim toys.

Why would I want to use electricity during sex?

Electricity might sound like the least sexy thing you could imagine. Who wants to get shocked during sex? You’d be surprised. Adding an e-stim toy to certain erogenous zones can heighten sensitivity and deepen pleasurable feelings. It gets right into those deep nerves and muscles.

E-stim toys use controlled electric shock to deliver acute, slightly sharp sparks to wherever the toy is placed on the body.

You know when we say there are “sparks” between two people who are into each other? Well, this is a literal spark. It’s more intense than a finger, vibrator or tongue-it’s its own thing. Oh, and it’s also super kinky.

How should I actually use an e-stim toy?

Do you enjoy having your testicles licked or sucked? If your partner is into it, have them use an e-stim toy between licks to “shock” your balls. It doesn’t exactly “hurt”; it’s more like an exciting jolt that gets the blood flowing, making their return to licking and sucking even more incredible. If going right for your balls is, well, a bit much, you can always try the inner thighs, lower back or nipples.

You can also use the toy on your partner’s body-again, as long as they’re consenting. Nipples are especially sensitive to e-stim.

“You can increase the electrical load as you become more familiar with its particular capacity. Always check in with your partner before ramping it up, unless that is something you have pre negotiated,” says Megan Stubbs, EdD, a well-known sexologist.

Try the toy on different parts of the body. Stubbs suggests trying a sample in a sex shop before buying. Just ask a salesperson for a bit of assistance. You can try it on your hand, arm or leg to see how you enjoy the sensation. You should know what to expect before bringing it into bed.

This might seem obvious, but do NOT make your own e-stim toys

An important thing to remember: Do not make your own electric sex toys. This is highly dangerous. You might end up killing someone this way. Not hot.

Buy a couple of e-stim toys from well-known sex toy companies that actually know what they’re doing. Yes, companies make toys designed for this specific kind of play, and they won’t cause you any physical harm.

As with any “out of the box” sex stuff, ask your doctor before trying e-stim toys to make sure you’re in physical condition to play with these kinds of toys. If you have a heart condition of any kind, stay away from electrical play.

Which e-stim toys should I try?

There are many excellent toys on the market for e-stim, but for those of you trying it for the first time, we recommend sticking with some basics.

Try the Doc Johnson Stinger Wand. It looks like a cattle prod, and it is one of our favorites. It makes a loud cracking sound when it touches skin, but the shock is actually quite mild. It’s more of a kinky, fun addition to sex, rather than a painful sting. “The electrical shocks come from the two ends and can be used in a variety of play from mild to wild,” Stubbs says. It has a bit more bark than bite, making it an ideal toy for beginners. Plus, it looks like something right out of a Dominatrix’s dungeon.

We also love Jimmyjane’s Hello Touch EStim Pods. You take the small electrodes and attach them to your pointer and middle fingers. You then attach a strap to your wrist. This toy turns your fingers into the e-stim toy. It’s electrifying your hand like you’re some kind of kinky sex genie. A bonus with this toy is that is also comes with vibrating pods. So, you can turn your fingers into vibrators as well.

“E-stim toys aren’t just limited to external play either. There are some toys on the market that are meant to be inserted or worn and can cause muscle contractions to those specific areas (think nipples, vagina, anus),” Stubbs tells us.

If you’re into trying an internal e-stim vibrator, we love the Sizzling Simon from MyStim. This toy should only be used inside a vulva, as it doesn’t have a flared base for anal use. If your partner has a vulva, give it a try.